Chinese entertainment starts with idols

Chapter 134 The Future First Actress (Part 2)

If we had to choose the greatest and most successful director in China, it would undoubtedly be Zhang Yimou. His previous title was "National Master," which is not something just anyone can be called. For a time, the word "director" was exclusively associated with him.

In the arts, Zhang Yimou has starred in films such as "To Live," "Red Sorghum," and "The Story of Qiu Ju," and has won awards at the three major international film festivals: Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.

Commercially, Zhang Yimou's "Hero" can be said to be the most influential film in China in the new century (regardless of artistic achievement, only in terms of influence), without exception. It was China's first commercial blockbuster and directly ushered in the "blockbuster era" of Chinese cinema.

Back then, "Hero" grossed 2.5 million yuan at the domestic box office, accounting for more than a quarter of China's total annual box office, which is equivalent to "Ne Zha 2" grossing 156 billion yuan today!

It's worth noting that "Hero" grossed $5370 million in North America, and this record for the highest-grossing Chinese film in North America (excluding "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") won't be broken until "Ne Zha 2" grossed $6124 million in 2025.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Zhang Yimou also directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. He is the first "dual-Olympics" chief director to direct the opening and closing ceremonies of both the Summer and Winter Olympics, and a shaper of the national image.

In addition to his artistic achievements, Zhang Yimou is the director who has discovered and contributed the most actors, following in the footsteps of Gong Liying,

Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Dongyu, Ni Ni, and Liu Haocun are all key figures in the Chinese film industry.

Of course, although Zhang Yimou has been controversial in recent years, especially after the movie "Shadow," his "old-fashioned" style has become more and more pronounced, and his movies have become increasingly perfunctory. However, compared to other great directors, the quality of his movies is still on par.

Moreover, no one can ignore Zhang Yimou's potential in discovering actors, and Lin Feng's reason for confirming whether Deng Shuang had rejected "Under the Hawthorn Tree" was mainly because he trusted Zhang Yimou's casting vision.

If possible, Deng Shuang could not only succeed in the traffic route, which she has already proven in her previous life, but also become a "top female star" who can directly compete with "top male stars". At the same time, Deng Shuang could also follow Zhou Dongyu's acting route and even replicate Zhou Dongyu's success as a "triple crown actress". She has the ability to do so.

In this way, "popularity + acting skills" is Lin Feng's strategy, and it is also the development path he has planned for Deng Shuang. Both of them want to reach the top of the entertainment industry.

However, did Deng Shuang actually reject "Under the Hawthorn Tree" because of "Meteor Shower"? Because the timing of the two doesn't quite match up.

So Lin Feng turned around and asked Deng Shuang, "Xiao Shuang, when you were acting in 'Meteor Shower,' did you turn down Zhang Yimou's 'Under the Hawthorn Tree'?"

"Why are you asking this?" Deng Shuang asked suspiciously.

"This is serious business, it's about your future development. Is there really such a thing?" Lin Feng asked earnestly.

"It wasn't exactly a rejection. It was just an open audition, and I made it to the final shortlist. But 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' never started filming, so I ended up doing 'Meteor Shower.' Luckily, I didn't do 'Under the Hawthorn Tree,' or I wouldn't have met you!"

"Oh, did you meet Zhang Yimou back then?" Lin Feng then asked.

"I did see him, but he didn't say anything, just nodded, and that was the end of it," Deng Shuang recalled.

"Oh! So that's how it is!" Lin Feng nodded thoughtfully.

Did Zhang Yimou actually take a liking to Deng Shuang? Lin Feng was somewhat puzzled.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, Lin Feng quickly realized that he had made the same mistake he made in his previous life. Why should he care so much about Zhang Yimou's opinion?

So what if Zhang Yimou likes it? So what if he doesn't? He's overthinking it.

It doesn't matter anymore. Even if Zhang Yimou didn't take a liking to Deng Shuang, so what?

Lin Feng should also promote her to become a "Triple Crown Best Actress". She can continue to replicate Zhou Dongyu's acting style. She has the potential in this area. She is full of talent now!

Moreover, Lin Feng has the resources, strength, and ability to make Deng Shuang's career even more successful and far-reaching than in her previous life. He wants to give her the best of everything.

This life's Deng Shuang = the previous life's Deng Shuang (popularity route) + Zhou Dongyu (acting route)!

She has both popularity and acting skills. She will not only be the "number one actress born in the 90s", but also the number one female star in the future!

At this moment, Deng Shuang asked curiously, "Lin Feng, why are you asking these questions? How do they relate to Zhang Yimou and 'Under the Hawthorn Tree'?"

"It's nothing. I just thought about how to plan your acting career. Xiao Shuang, do you want to become a triple crown actress and the number one actress born in the 90s?" Lin Feng asked firmly.

I can understand "the first actress born in the 90s," but when you say "the three-time Golden Horse Award winner," are you referring to the Golden Horse Award, the Hong Kong Film Award, and so on?

Golden Rooster! If that's the case, I don't want it; it's too tiring! I'd rather be with you. If you want me to be someone, then I will be!

At this time, Deng Shuang's heart and soul were focused on Lin Feng alone. She had no ambition for her career and was content with this peaceful and stable life.

Lin Feng held Deng Shuang's hand and said gently, "Silly girl, besides me, you have many people who love you, and fans who have always silently supported you! You don't just have to live for yourself, or just for me, but also for your fans, other people who love you, and most importantly, for yourself! You have to live for yourself, and you have to have ideals and pursuits, otherwise your life will be too boring! Ask yourself what your wishes are?"

"My wish is to marry you and be together forever," Deng Shuang replied without hesitation, her eyes filled with deep affection and dependence.

"Fool, besides me, ask yourself honestly what you're thinking! Don't you have any ideals in life? For example, what level do you want to achieve in the entertainment industry? What awards and honors do you want to win?"

"Well, actually I'm not really interested in the entertainment industry. The reason I entered this industry was mostly because of my parents' expectations for me, and I just happened to get in. I was also very lucky to become famous, and then I met you. Without you, I don't know if I could have survived in this industry. To be honest, I don't like the entertainment industry. There's too much backstabbing and scheming in this industry. I really don't like it. But this is what I've been doing since I was a child. I don't know how to do anything else, and I have so many fans who support and love me. Of course, I want to become a bigger star. When I was a child, I also fantasized about becoming a big star and going on stage to receive awards. But like you just said, things like 'Three Golden Awards Best Actress' or 'First 90s Flower' are things I've never really thought about!"

"But you're getting more and more amazing, and I don't want the gap between us to get too big. I really want to take my career to the next level, to win box office hits and awards, so that I can be your equal!"

Deng Shuang is quite ambitious; who wouldn't want to be a big star? However, her ambition is more about being on par with Lin Feng, rather than just being an appendage of him.

Lin Feng was a little touched. Now Deng Shuang always seemed to put him first in everything she did. He secretly vowed to make Deng Shuang even better. Since she also had the ambition to become a "Triple Crown Best Actress", he would help Deng Shuang achieve it.

When it comes to Zhou Dongyu's most outstanding work, it is undoubtedly "Better Days". It not only promoted Yi Yangqianxi from "idol" to "actress", but also earned Zhou Dongyu the two "Best Actress" titles of Hong Kong Film Awards and China Golden Rooster Awards.

It just so happens that Deng Shuang was also bullied at school when she was a child. When she went to Chengdu to study alone at the age of 12, she became introverted due to transferring schools midway and regional differences.

Deng Shuang chose to bear the burden alone without seeking help from her family because she was afraid of worrying her parents. This became an important root of her lack of security in her personality.

This is why she likes Lin Feng so much; she feels very safe with him and doesn't need to worry about too many things.

Thinking of this, Lin Feng wrote the script for the movie "Better Days" in front of Deng Shuang. Since it was for Deng Shuang, Lin Feng put a lot of effort into it. He wrote and revised it at the same time. At first, Deng Shuang advised Lin Feng to go to sleep, but Lin Feng said nonchalantly, "It's okay. I'll finish it right away while I have some ideas. You go to sleep first."

After Lin Feng got Deng Shuang to sleep, he started writing again. This time, he added a lot of his own interpretations and included Deng Shuang's experiences.

When Deng Shuang woke up the next day, she found Lin Feng still writing a movie script. She said with some concern, "Lin Feng, you've been writing all night! Didn't you sleep?" After saying that, Deng Shuang massaged Lin Feng's shoulders.

"It's alright, I'm in great spirits! This is the movie script I wrote for you, 'Better Days.' It's still a first draft, but it's basically like this. Take a look, do you like it?"

Lin Feng wore a tired but excited smile as he handed the newly written movie script to Deng Shuang.

Deng Shuang took the script and looked at it carefully, as if she were opening a precious gift. Before long, she was moved to tears. On the one hand, it was because of the script itself, which was indeed a good script and contained many of her own experiences; on the other hand, she was touched to think that Lin Feng had spent a whole night writing it for her without sleeping.

"I love it! I love it so much! Lin Feng, you're so good to me! This is the best movie script I've ever seen. It's a great story." Deng Shuang hugged the movie script like it was a treasure, filled with happiness.

"This is your story! The female lead in this movie is definitely yours, and if you act well in this kind of realistic film, it's easy to win awards. This movie is also for you to try and win awards; it requires a very high level of acting skill. Are you prepared for that?"

"I don't have it now, but I will definitely work hard. I can practice! I can hone my skills!" This was specially designed for her by Lin Feng, Deng Shuang said solemnly.

"Do you want to take on the challenge now? Consider it an early audition! Of course, the female lead is definitely yours, but I just want to see how much you still have to improve," Lin Feng continued.

"An audition? Just the two of us? Sure, I'd like to try too. Can you give me some pointers later? What scene do you want to audition for?" Deng Shuang was eager to try; she also wanted to know how far she was from Lin Feng.

"That's the very first scene of the movie, the scene where the female lead, Chen Nian, puts a school uniform on Hu Xiaodie, who committed suicide," Lin Feng said.

This scene has no dialogue, only eye contact and movements. It seems simple, but it really tests an actor's skills. The plot is also simple: when faced with the indifference and cold indifference of the entire school towards their closest classmate jumping off a building, only the female lead, Chen Nian, steps forward, takes off her school uniform, and drapes it over Hu Xiaodie. Chen Nian knows everything Hu Xiaodie went through before her suicide, but she didn't stand up for her, choosing to ignore it instead. Therefore, Chen Nian feels very guilty about Hu Xiaodie's death, which is why she wants to do something for her in her final moments.

After pausing for five minutes, Deng Shuang got into character. Her performance was quite good, with good layers throughout. Her eyes showed a mix of hesitation and fear, and her hands trembled slightly, but the performance was still complete.

Lin Feng first gave her a couple of positive comments, and then pointed out her performance issues. "Not bad, not bad! It's very good that you started with this kind of performance. The trembling hand gesture you just made was very well designed. However, some details could be richer and more layered. For example, when the female lead first witnessed Hu Xiaodie's tragic suicide, the first thing that appeared on her face was shock and grief; at this time, her facial expression should be more about shock and pain."

Then, in the hesitation of whether or not to put the school uniform on Hu Xiaodie, the female protagonist went through an intense internal struggle. She was afraid of being involved in the incident and becoming the next target of bullying, but at the same time she could not ignore her own kindness and sense of justice. At this time, it would be best to add some flickering eyes and slight body movements.

But when the female protagonist finally overcame her fear and resolutely draped the school uniform over Hu Xiaodie, it was not only out of respect for Hu Xiaodie, but also a silent protest against school bullying. At that moment, her eyes revealed determination and resolve.

Furthermore, the female lead's steps should appear unusually heavy as she walks towards Hu Xiaodie's body. She needs to adjust the rhythm of her steps and also add force to convey the heaviness and grief to the audience.

In short, the performance of the entire scene should be coherent and layered. This coherence and layering not only allows the audience to understand the character's inner world more deeply, but also makes the entire scene more infectious and impactful.

"Lin Feng, now that you mention it, I feel my acting skills are still far from good enough. Why don't you find someone else to play the role? I'm just delaying your important business." Although Deng Shuang really liked the script, she didn't want to affect Lin Feng's career.

"Silly girl, this is a movie I specially made for you, how can we change the actors! Besides, we don't necessarily have to invest in filming right now. Although your acting skills are still a bit lacking, you can practice and hone them!"

However, you should also be mentally prepared. This movie demands a lot from your acting skills. The scene you just auditioned for was only a part of it, and it wasn't even the climax scene where the male and female leads stare at each other in prison!

"Of course, you should have confidence too. I have high hopes for you. Besides, acting skills can be practiced! And now the script is in your hands, so you can study it anytime. When you feel ready, then we can officially start filming!" Lin Feng said calmly.

"Lin Feng, you're so good to me. I promise I won't let you down."

"I believe in you, but I can only give you three years at most, so you have to work hard!"

"Why only three years?"

"Because I'll be too big by then to play the male lead. You don't want to act with someone else, do you?"

"How could that be! Don't worry, I guarantee it won't take three years!"